'Women in Katine have no idea what this day means'

Women still don't enjoy equal rights to men in many countries in the world. Photograph: Martin Godwin

The last 40 years have seen a significant attitudinal shift in society's thoughts about women's equality and emancipation around the world.

Many from a younger generation feel that a lot of the battles for women have been won, while many feminists from the 1970s know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy.

With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights and an increased visibility in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality.

But there is still some way to go. Sexual and reproductive rights for women are still not universal, many women still lack access to land and their views are often ignored. According to Concern Worldwide, the majority of the world's hungry are women, despite them growing 80% of the food in developing countries. The organisation will today launch a campaign, Women can't wait, to call on the UN and world leaders to urgently commit to listening to the voices of poor women, including them in decision-making processes and providing them with funds to support them in their efforts to feed themselves and their families.

Uganda has gone some way to improve the position of women. The country was one of the first in Africa to introduce positive discrimination to ensure more women were involved in politics. But are they listened to? Not as much as they should be, says Kitgum MP Beatrice Anywar.

She told the Daily Monitor today: "We appreciate the affirmative action that has made women access education and hold political positions. But just the numbers alone is not enough. We want impact."

She added: "The government will say we have done a lot to have many women holding positions right from the local governments, but almost all these women do not wield any power or influence. They are just there in numbers."

Uganda has still to pass laws relating to equal rights in marriage, divorce and in relation to land and property.

Marking the day in Katine

For Eunice Adur, a teacher at Katine primary school, it is a day when women are honoured for their contribution towards the development of the community.

However, only educated women would know about this. For typical rural housewife has no idea what it means. "Women in Katine are not sensitized, so they really have no idea what it means," she says.

Adur says there should be a deliberate plan by government to inform all women about the importance of the day, which would then help them to learn their rights and responsibilities in the community. Lack of information means rural women will remain as underdogs.

"Women here still think that men are naturally meant to lead in everything. That is why even when they are elected into certain positions they turn them down claiming they are too committed at home taking care of the children. So they [women] feel the best place for them is the kitchen," she adds.

And when women do want to attend meetings or be more vocal about their rights their husbands can prevent them from doing so, sometimes threatening them with physical violence. A domestic violence law has recently been passed in Uganda, which should offer greater protection to victims. We will have to wait to see what impact this law will have on the community.

To Rose Asege Odongo, a sub-county councillor representing Katine parish, women's day gives women courage to take up and participate in development issues affecting them. But still there are very many challenges, especially for rural woman.

"We are now allowed to speak during forums and meetings, which means that our issues are also being taken care of, although not by much," says Asege.

She believes men still don't think that women can do much and don't give women a chance to take on responsibilities. She says government ought to enact laws that would compel men to open up roles to allow women to take a lead.

She says this should start with considering a girl's education of equal value to that of a boy. She adds that only two women in every 100 have a chance to own property in Katine, a fact that she attributes to ignorance resulting from illiteracy. In Katine almost three quarters of women are either illiterate or semi-illiterate.

Soroti district has chosen Katine sub-county as the venue for celebrating international women's day, an opportunity that Asege says will help enlighten women who have little knowledge about the day.

"As we celebrate this day, my call to all stakeholders is that there is a need to call women for sensitisation, and give them a chance to take up leadership roles so that they could as well develop," says Asege.